Allstate Tests Whether Video Games Improve Driving
10-02-2008, 02:42 PM
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Allstate Tests Whether Video Games Improve Driving
Allstate Tests Whether Video Games Improve Driving
NEW YORK (AP) ― Could playing computer games enhance mental agility enough to turn people over 50 into better drivers? Allstate Corp. wants to find out, and if the answer is yes, it might offer insurance discounts to people who play the games.
Under a new pilot program called InSight, Allstate will offer specialized computer games to 100,000 customers in Pennsylvania aged 50 to 75. The games' developer, San Francisco-based Posit Science, will track the total number of hours these drivers play.
Then the group's accident rates will be compared to a control group of people who do not play the games.
The games are not all specific to driving. They're designed to reverse age-related cognitive decline and improve visual alertness. For example, a game called "Jewel Diver" has players keep track of underwater jewels that pop up on the screen for a moment before they are hidden under fish swimming around. When the fish stop moving, players click on the fish hiding the jewel. It's like Three Card Monte but without the cheating. Over time, the game gets more complicated as more fish appear on the screen.
Allstate recommends that drivers complete at least 10 hours of training. It's being given as a free option to the 100,000 Pennsylvania drivers, and Allstate plans to decide next year whether to roll it out in other states.
Tom Warden, an assistant vice president at Allstate, said the company chose Posit's technology because it is based on nine years of research into how older drivers' brain fitness might be improved.
While people their 50s and 60s have the lowest accident rates of all drivers, at some point in the mid-60s this rate starts to climb again, Warden said. He hopes the brain fitness software can show "significant benefits here -- beyond dollars and cents."
NEW YORK (AP) ― Could playing computer games enhance mental agility enough to turn people over 50 into better drivers? Allstate Corp. wants to find out, and if the answer is yes, it might offer insurance discounts to people who play the games.
Under a new pilot program called InSight, Allstate will offer specialized computer games to 100,000 customers in Pennsylvania aged 50 to 75. The games' developer, San Francisco-based Posit Science, will track the total number of hours these drivers play.
Then the group's accident rates will be compared to a control group of people who do not play the games.
The games are not all specific to driving. They're designed to reverse age-related cognitive decline and improve visual alertness. For example, a game called "Jewel Diver" has players keep track of underwater jewels that pop up on the screen for a moment before they are hidden under fish swimming around. When the fish stop moving, players click on the fish hiding the jewel. It's like Three Card Monte but without the cheating. Over time, the game gets more complicated as more fish appear on the screen.
Allstate recommends that drivers complete at least 10 hours of training. It's being given as a free option to the 100,000 Pennsylvania drivers, and Allstate plans to decide next year whether to roll it out in other states.
Tom Warden, an assistant vice president at Allstate, said the company chose Posit's technology because it is based on nine years of research into how older drivers' brain fitness might be improved.
While people their 50s and 60s have the lowest accident rates of all drivers, at some point in the mid-60s this rate starts to climb again, Warden said. He hopes the brain fitness software can show "significant benefits here -- beyond dollars and cents."
10-02-2008, 04:39 PM
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The only games that I could see doing that are true SIM racing games. Nothing on consoles is out yet that is a true sim. Things like iracing and race 07 could definitely help though.
10-02-2008, 07:18 PM
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video games and driving my RC car with electrical tape on the tires has helped my driving no doubt 100%
people dont understand physics of a car. Before you get into any vehicle, you should know what wheels are driven (girls say "what? what do you mean what wheels are driven? dont they all drive like omg im stupid") how heavy the vehicle is, what grade tires etc.
otherwise you'll end up like my friends sister who oversteered her Miata into a freeway soundwall at the exit of a 270' cloverleaf.
"i didnt know it was RWD"
"well thats why i told you to buy it! lol oops"
people dont understand physics of a car. Before you get into any vehicle, you should know what wheels are driven (girls say "what? what do you mean what wheels are driven? dont they all drive like omg im stupid") how heavy the vehicle is, what grade tires etc.
otherwise you'll end up like my friends sister who oversteered her Miata into a freeway soundwall at the exit of a 270' cloverleaf.
"i didnt know it was RWD"
"well thats why i told you to buy it! lol oops"
Last edited by kYLEMtnCRUZr; 10-02-2008 at 07:20 PM.
10-02-2008, 08:42 PM
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^ i love pwning those noobs.
They ALWAYS drive a Skyline r34, on the most hairpin track they can find, and cut all the corners and ride all the rails. I always call them out on it and call them puthays in front of their 15 1/2 year old friends.
They always say "wheres your card?" as i choose a stock car, usually a miata
when i win i pick Shomoru stage, its like the most un-hairpin track inituro D
They ALWAYS drive a Skyline r34, on the most hairpin track they can find, and cut all the corners and ride all the rails. I always call them out on it and call them puthays in front of their 15 1/2 year old friends.
They always say "wheres your card?" as i choose a stock car, usually a miata
when i win i pick Shomoru stage, its like the most un-hairpin track inituro D
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